Bangalore-based defence technology startup ArthX is developing Sharanga, a tube-launched tactical loitering munition designed to provide the Indian Army with precision strike capability at extended ranges.

The system represents a significant step in India’s indigenous drone warfare program, combining affordability, lethality, and operational flexibility.

Sharanga is conceived as a tactical loitering munition that can be launched from a compact tube system, enabling rapid deployment in battlefield conditions.

The design allows soldiers to carry and operate the system with minimal logistical burden, making it suitable for both infantry and artillery units. Its tube-launched configuration ensures ease of transport and concealment, while also providing protection to the munition until deployment.

The munition is expected to incorporate advanced guidance systems, including electro-optical sensors and AI-assisted target recognition. This will allow Sharanga to loiter over contested areas, identify high-value targets, and execute precision strikes with minimal collateral damage.

The integration of autonomous target acquisition reduces dependence on external guidance, enhancing survivability in electronic warfare environments.

ArthX has emphasised modularity in the design of Sharanga. The system is being developed to accommodate different warhead types, ranging from anti-armour to anti-personnel payloads.

This flexibility ensures that commanders can tailor its use to specific mission requirements, whether neutralising fortified positions, suppressing enemy artillery, or engaging mobile targets.

The Indian Army has already inducted loitering munitions from other indigenous vendors, such as Tata Advanced Systems Limited and NIBE Private Limited, under contracts worth ₹1,577 crore.

These systems are capable of striking targets at ranges up to 100 kilometres and have been described as critical equipment for artillery regiments. Sharanga, being developed by ArthX, is expected to complement these acquisitions by offering a lighter, tactical solution optimised for rapid deployment and close-support operations.

Globally, loitering munitions have transformed modern warfare by collapsing the sensor-to-shooter loop. Unlike conventional artillery, which requires pre-confirmed target coordinates, loitering munitions can be launched pre-emptively, loiter in the air, and strike once a target is identified.

This persistence provides decisive advantages against fleeting or concealed targets. Sharanga is designed to embody these attributes, offering Indian forces a discriminating weapon that aligns with the principles of proportionality under the laws of armed conflict.

ArthX’s development of Sharanga is part of the broader Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, which seeks to reduce dependence on foreign suppliers and strengthen India’s domestic defence ecosystem.

The company has collaborated with local suppliers and MSMEs to ensure that the system can be produced entirely within India. This approach not only enhances self-reliance but also ensures scalability for mass deployment.

The introduction of Sharanga is expected to significantly enhance India’s tactical strike capabilities in asymmetric warfare scenarios. UAVs equipped with loitering munitions can operate in swarms, overwhelming adversaries with simultaneous precision strikes. This capability is particularly relevant in contested border regions and counter-insurgency operations, where speed, accuracy, and cost-effectiveness are critical.

Defence analysts view Sharanga as a natural progression following India’s advancements in UAV-launched missiles and precision-guided munitions. By providing a low-cost, high-impact option for tactical engagements, the system will expand the layered capabilities of India’s drone arsenal.

ArthX’s innovation underscores Bangalore’s growing role as a hub for military technology development and highlights the increasing contribution of private industry to India’s defence modernisation.

Agencies